Optical device having prism-shaped reflector directing opposing light paths onto an image sensor

Abstract

A camera can include a housing, two lenses, a prism-shaped reflector, a reflector support surface, and an optical sensor. The two lenses are coupled to the housing in substantially opposing directions. The prism-shaped reflector has two parallel surfaces and three additional surfaces comprising: a first and a second reflective surfaces and a support plane. The reflector support surface is bonded to the prism-shaped reflector at the support plane. The optical sensor includes a surface upon which two non-overlapping image circles are concurrently projected; one from each of the two lenses. Each image circle results from a light path from a respective one of the two lenses being reflected off one of the first and second reflective surfaces onto the surface of the optical sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An optical device comprising:
 a housing; 
 two lenses coupled to the housing in substantially opposing directions; 
 a triangular prism-shaped reflector having two parallel surfaces and three additional surfaces comprising: a first and a second reflective surfaces and a support plane; 
 a reflector support surface bonded to the triangular prism-shaped reflector at the support plane; 
 a support gap comprising a volumetric support void between the triangle shaped prism and interior components excluding the ninety five percent or more support for maintaining a relative position of the triangular prism-shaped reflector to other components of the optical device results from the reflector support surface being bonded to the triangular prism-shaped reflector support surface as well as an interior surface of the housing, wherein; and 
 one or more optical sensors upon which two non-overlapping image circles are concurrently projected, one from each of the two lenses, wherein each image circle results from a light path from a respective one of the two lenses being reflected off one of the first and second reflective surfaces onto a surface of the one or more optical sensors. 
 
     
     
       2. The optical device of  claim 1 , wherein the triangular prism-shaped reflector is bonded to the reflector support surface before the reflector support surface is secured within the housing. 
     
     
       3. The optical device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more optical sensors is one optical sensor. 
     
     
       4. The optical device of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a non-reflecting, non-transparent separator positioned within the housing between light paths from the two lenses after these light paths are reflected by the first and second reflective surfaces. 
 
     
     
       5. The optical device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the two lenses is an ultra-wide angle lens having a field of view of greater than 180 degrees. 
     
     
       6. The optical device of  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the optical sensor and a light path between each of the two lenses and respective reflective surfaces of the triangular prism-shaped reflector are within five degrees of being parallel. 
     
     
       7. The optical device of  claim 1 , wherein a length of each of the first and second reflective surfaces is equal. 
     
     
       8. The optical device of  claim 1 , wherein a ninety degree angle exists between the first and second reflective surfaces, wherein a forty-five degree angle exists between each of the first and second reflective surfaces and a planar surface of the one or more optical sensors. 
     
     
       9. A camera comprising:
 a housing; 
 two ultra-wide camera lenses, each having a field of view of greater than 180 degrees, coupled to the housing in substantially opposing directions; 
 a prism-shaped reflector having two parallel surfaces and three additional surfaces comprising: a first and a second reflective surfaces and a support plane; 
 a reflector support surface bonded to the prism-shaped reflector at the support plane; and 
 an optical sensor upon which two non-overlapping image circles are concurrently projected, one from each of the two lenses, wherein each image circle results from a light path from a respective one of the two lenses being reflected off one of the first and second reflective surfaces onto a surface of the optical sensor. 
 
     
     
       10. The camera of  claim 9 , wherein the prism-shaped reflector is a triangular prism-shaped reflector. 
     
     
       11. The camera of  claim 9 , wherein ninety five percent or more support for maintaining a relative position of the triangular prism-shaped reflector to other components of the optical device results from the reflector support surface being bonded to the prism-shaped reflector. 
     
     
       12. The camera of  claim 9 , wherein a support plane of the reflector support surface does not intersect a light path between the two ulta-wide camera lenses and the optical sensor. 
     
     
       13. The camera of  claim 9 , wherein a surface of the optical sensor and a light path between each of the two lenses and respective reflective surfaces of the triangular prism-shaped reflector are within five degrees of being parallel. 
     
     
       14. The camera of  claim 9 , wherein a length of each of the first and second reflective surfaces is equal. 
     
     
       15. The camera of  claim 9 , wherein a ninety degree angle exists between the first and second reflective surfaces, wherein a forty-five degree angle exists between each of the first and second reflective surfaces and a planar surface of the optical sensor. 
     
     
       16. A camera comprising:
 a housing; 
 two ultra-wide camera lenses, each having a field of view of greater than 180 degrees, coupled to the housing in substantially opposing directions; 
 a prism-shaped reflector having a first reflection region on a first reflection plane, a second reflection region on a second reflection plane, and a support region on a support plane, wherein the first reflection region, the second reflection region, and the support region are planar surfaces, wherein an angle of eight five to ninety five degrees exists between the first reflection region and the second reflection region, wherein an angle of forty to fifty degrees exists between the support region and each of the first and second reflection regions; 
 a reflector support surface bonded to the prism-shaped reflector at the support region; and 
 an optical sensor upon which two non-overlapping image circles are concurrently projected, one from each of the two lenses, wherein each image circle results from a light path from a respective one of the two lenses being reflected off one of the first and second reflection regions onto a surface of the optical sensor. 
 
     
     
       17. The camera of  claim 16 , wherein the prism-shaped reflector is a triangular prism-shaped reflector. 
     
     
       18. The camera of  claim 16 , wherein ninety five percent or more support for maintaining a relative position of the prism-shaped reflector to other components of the camera results from the reflector support surface being bonded to the triangular prism-shaped reflector. 
     
     
       19. The camera of  claim 16 , wherein a support plane of the reflector support surface does not intersect a light path between the two ulta-wide camera lenses and the optical sensor. 
     
     
       20. The camera of  claim 16 , wherein a surface of the optical sensor and a light path between each of the two lenses and respective reflective surfaces of the triangular prism-shaped reflector are within five degrees of being parallel.